Importance

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Abstract

A method of operating computers in accordance with an enhanced object-oriented programming methodology creates a framework for efficiently performing automated business transactions. The object-oriented programming methodology is used in conjunction with a travelling program, i.e., a digital data structure which includes a sequence of instructions and associated data which has the capability of determining at least one next destination or recipient for receiving the travelling program and for transmitting itself, together with all relevant data determined by the program to the next recipient or destination Using the methods described herein, the data is more closely bound to the program in such a way that objects may be most efficiently transferred from one computer user to another without the objects being previously known to the recipient computer user. The present invention utilizes object 'cells' which are data structures stored, for example, on a disk that reflects a collection of (related) objects instances whose execution has been suspended, and which can be resumed later on the same or a different platform. The collection of object instances can be gathered together into cells (or 'electronic forms') suitable for storage or transmission to another computer user in such a way that instances are unambiguously bound to their respective class definition. The present invention also creates improved tools for creating and using cells so that electronic forms can be defined using object-oriented techniques while allowing such forms to be easily transferred among a diverse population of computer users--without demanding that all users maintain compatible libraries of all object-class definition programs and without demanding that all users maintain identical synchronized versions of that class. The invention provides a digital signature methodology to insure security and integrity, so that electronic forms (i.e., cells) composed of a collection of objects can be received and executed by a user without putting the user at risk that some of the object classes embedded in the cell might be subversive 'trojan horse' programs that might steal, destroy or otherwise compromise the security or integrity of the user's system or data.

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First Claim